Laundry machine



June 21'. 1927. 1,632,797

L. W. MAMMEN LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed June 28, 1923 2 Shuts-Sheet 1 l W! F M waumm mun lljl llllllllllllfl mum June 21,1921. 1,632,797

L. W. MAMMEN.

LAUNDRY MACHINE 7 Filed June 28. 1923 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES LAWRENCE W. MAMMEN, OFOHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAUNDRY MAC INE.

Application filed June 28,

My invention relates to a power-driven washing machine and more particularly to the manner of mounting and housing the driving and driven elements whereby they are properly mounted and secured in place, and all of the shafts and intermeshing gears of the driving mechanism entirely enclosed so as to-protect the operator against injury, while at the same time enabling an easy as sembly of the various elements and therefore also permit ready access to the driving mechanism to be had when occasion requires.

Theobjects and advantages of my invention will be more readily comprehended from the .detailed description of the accompany ing drawings, wherein 1 V Figure l is a perspective view of a combined washing machine and wringer provided with my improvements; with a portion of the driving shaft casing or sleeve shown in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking downwardly, with a portion of the casing cover broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken sub-.

stantially on the line 33 of Figure 2 look-- ing in the direction of the arrows. I

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view in elevation of the casing or housing for a portion of the driving shaft,.the driven shaft and the cylinder or agitator operating mechanism. I v r s Figure 5 isa vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view substantially similar to Figure 3 illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional viewof the drive-shaft enclosing portion of the housing, with the shaft and gearing omitted.

My invention relates to the casing or housing construction for the driving and.

driven elements of a laundry machine and more particularly of the type ClISClOSGd in my former Patent No. 1,384,267, wherein the driving mechanism for operating the cylinder or agitator of the machine is power driven; the machine as illustrated compris ing a suitable receptacle or tub, indicated at 10 in Figure 1, provided with suitable supporting standards or legs 11 adapted-to be secured to the sides of the receptacle; with the of the legs preferably braced by hi mhcrs'as at 12 and a supporting of the her 32 of a 1923. Serial No. 648,185.

member 13. Some of the supportingmemhers 12 also provide supportfor acrossmcm'ber 14 adapted to support a suitable element 16 for driving pulley 17 The pulley 17 is secured to a sub-shaft l7 mounted in a suitable casing or housing, indicated generally at 18, which is secured to the supporting member 13 and to one of the legs 11.

The casing 18 consistsof amain or body portion 19 ,of suitable depth to properly house worm-gear 20 formed on the inner end stub-shaftl'i. The body portion 19 of the'housing or casing-is provided at opposite sides with suitable boss formations 21, 21 whereby to provide proper bearing for the stub-shaft and its worm and end thrust ball-bear1ng 21.

The main or body portion 19 is also intended to receive the "lower end of a main drive shaft 22 which is provided. with a worm-gear -23 meshing with worm 20 of stub-shaft 17 The body portion 19 is shown provided with an enlargement or boss 24, socketed to receive the thrust ball-bearing 25 and the end of the drive shaft 22; the latter being preferably provided with a shallow socket in its end to receive the ball-bearing 25 As is evident from the construction shown in Figure 3, the housingis formed-toupro vide a grease on oil chamber for the worm gearing described and enables said gearing with the thrust bearing to be'constantly provided' with sutlicient lubrication.

Thetop. of the body portion 19 is preferably formed to receive a cover member 26 which is .removably secured thereto by means of bolts or screws as at 27 :in Figure 2. I The cover member 26 in Figures ,1 and 3 is shown provided with the integral upwardly presented-elongated hub .portion 28, preferablyv reenforced by webs 28 with the interior diameter of hub portion 28 *sutficiently larger than the diameter of drive shaft 22 in order to also receive-suitable bushing as at 29.

The construction shown provides an elongated bearing for the drive shaft, while at gage wit-lithe depending flange on a boss 31 formed on'the under side of the lower meml i ge gear casing or housing generally i at 33 in Figure 1.

casing"33 is intended to house the gearing and clutch mechanism intermediateof the drive shaft 22 and the cylinder or agitator operating mechanism. The boss 31 on lower member 32 of casing 33 is formed to receive suitable packing or bushing as shown at 34 in Figure 4. 1 V

The housing 33 is preferably made of the separate main sections 32 and 35, each of whichis formed with a rectangular portion and a somewhat circular portion as shown in Figures 1' and 4; the two sections being intended to be removably secured together in any suitable manner, as for example by means of bolts extending through the apertured lobes or ears 06 formed on the upper and lower sections 35, 32, of the gear casing or housing.

The lower section 32 at one end thereof, namely in the rectangular portion, recelves the upper end of the drive shaft 22 and the bevel gear secured thereto; while the circular portion of the lower section is provided with suitable bosses 37, 37 at diametrically opposite "into operative relation with the gear 42;

clutch member 45 being actuatedthrough the medium of a link 46 which is connected with a lever intended to be operated by handle 47.

The upper section 35, in the rectangular 7 portion thereof, houses the lower end of a second drive shaft section 48 which is provided with a clutch 49 wherebyithe upper drive section is moved into and out of operative relation with the lower drive shaft 22; the upper drive shaft section 48 being for the purpose of operating the wringer of the washing machine The clutch 49 is controlled by the handle 47, whose inner end is provided with an eccentric head which is preferably so disposed as tomove clutch 49 into operative relation with the clutch por tion on lower drive shaft section 22 when the lever is moved in a direction which will cause clutch 45 to be moved outof operative relation with the gear 42 of the screwshaft 38.

-As the driving mechanism, including the reverse gearing, forms no part of the present application, a further specific description of the driving elements 1s not deemed necessary beyond a general statement of such elements or casing; y p i The lower section 32 of the housing 33 is V for the purpose of setting forth the functions and reasons of the construction and arrangement'of my improved enclosing means provided with lugs or bosses 50, 50 (seeFig ure 5) adapted to support the bearing brackets or members 51, 5f forn'ied to receive suitable bushing 52, to provide suitable bearing for the driven shaft 44. The members 51, 51 extend from side to side of the housing in superposed relation at the ends which in turn lOfc'll on the lugs 50 to which they may be secured by short bolts 51, see Figure 5. The opposite side of the circular portion of the housing is provided with a boss as at 53 to receive the end of the driven shaft 44 and the circular portion is also provided with integral lugs as at 54, 54 to which the ends of a bracket member 55 are secured and which bracket member pivotally supports the lever 41; while at an intermediate point the circularportion'of the housing is provided with a lug 56 for receiving the end of a spring 57 which partially controls the action of lever 41. 1

The lower section 32 "of housing33 is preferably provided with an integral front all which extends to a point slightly above the screw-rod or shaft 38 and thus provides a grease or oil holding chamber which enables the screw-shaft to be more or less immersed in the lubricant as may also the gear which, in turn lubricates the gear 43, while the lower part of the circular gear 58 may also run through the lubricant during its rotation in the housing. In other words, the housing enables all of the enclosed gearing to at all times have ample lubrication.

The upper section 35, namely at the cir cular portion thereof, is preferably provided with a removable front wall or cover 59 which maybe secured in place in any suitable manner, as for example by providing the lower part with an off-set lip or lug at 60,

adapted to extend rearward ofthe front .wall

of the lower section, as shown in Figure 5; 7

while the upper part of the cover portion 59 is shown provided with a lug or lip as at 61 to receive a screw orbolt for removably holding the cover member in place.

As is apparent from the construction shown, the coverportion 59 may be readily removed, thereby completely disclosingthe mechanism within; and by reason of the general formation of the housing in two main sections or portions, it is evident that the gearing and other enclosed mechanism may be easily assembled and put into place and the casing or housing with the gearing secured to the side of the rece itaclc or. tub. The upper section 35, at a point concentric with the drive shaft section 48, is apertured for the passage of the upper drive shaft section and provided with a circumferential boss 62 adapted to receive a sleeve (53 which encloses the upper shaft section 48; the sleeve being held in proper place by the boss 62 as shown.

In Figures 6 and 7 I show aymodified form ofthe-casing for the lower end of the lil drive shaft .22; the general construction of that previously described a and consisting i of the main or body portion 19 having the interior-Ly socketed to receive the boss 24- ball-bearing 25 and athe endof the drive shaft while the cover member 26 iis shown provided with an arcuate boss 64 apertured for the passage of the drive shaft 22 and provided with a circumferential groove to receive the lower end of thesleeve or'shaft' casing 30. This construction, like that shown in Figure .1, not only ensures the position of the casing or sleeve but at thesame time induces the lubricant, which may be insert-ed at the upper end of the sleeve or casing 63 to flow down through the sleeve 6S,-the rectangular portions of the housing 33 and down throughsleeve into the housing 190i 19 As is readily apparent, my improved housing not only provides *suitablelbearings for the various elements of 'the driving mechanism, but it also completely houses the same and thereforeeliminates any possibility of dang-cr,-as contact with the movmg elements is impossible; while at the same time providing communicating channels which enable all ofithe elementsofthe driving mechanism "to be easily lubricated through the introduction of oil at a given point; the housing being formed lto maintain proper relation :of its respective parts as well as operative'relation of'the driving mechanisms.

I have" shown what I believe to be the best adaptations of my invention which has been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as terms of limitation, as structural modifications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim is i 1. In a machine of the character described, provided with a vertically disposed drive shaft, a housing disposed about the lower end of said shaft and socketed to receive anti-friction thrust bearing and provide an oil well for the lower end of the shaft, a cover portion removably secured to said housing and provided with an upwardly disposed apertured boss for passage of the drive shaft therethrough, and a sleeve portion mounted on the cover portion and disposed about the drive shaft, with the relation between the sleeve and easing adapted to provide a continuous oil passage.

2. In .a power operated machine of the character described, provided with a vertically disposed drive shaft and a horizontally disposed driven shaft, a housing disposed about the drive shaft adapted to provide a lubricant holding chamber at the lower end thereof, a housing for said driven shaft comprising an upper and a lower sec- 5 tion is.

tion removably secured together, the .lower section being formed to constitute a lubricant holding chamber, while thcsupper secprovided with a remo' able cover portion. v v i m r 3. In a laundry machine of the class ;described, agear casing composed of an upper integral.elongated portion and a curvilinear sectionand a lower integral elongated vportionand a curvilinear se'ction,-the lower section beingcqarovided with internal bearing bracket holding lugsand with bosses to pro- .vide bearings for a drive shaft and for a driven shaft while the u er section is 9rovided with a. removable front wall or coverportion, both sections being removablylsecured togther. a

41-. In alaundry machine of: the class described, a gear casing comprising an upper section and a .lowersection removably secured-together and each consisting-of a curvilinear portion andan elongatedport-ion, the low'er'section being provided with inter,- nal lugs on the front and rear walls and with an integral front wall, while the upper portion is provided with airemovable front wall, and a pair of shaft holding brackets each part disposed throughout the length of the driven shaft, :and a tubular casing for the drive-shaft, secured intermediate of both casings.

6. In a laundry machine provided with a vertically disposed drive-shaft and a laterally disposed driven shaft, composite housing for said shafts comprising a dished casing for the lower end of the drive-shaft provided with a laterally disposed hub adapted to receive a. power shaft, a two part casing for the driven shaft, each part extending throughout the length of said shaftand arranged one above the other, with the lower part adapted to constitute an oil chamber, while the upper part has a removable cover portion, and a tubular casing disposed about the drive-shaft and telescoping with the apertured portions of both casings.

7. In a laundry machine provided with a vertically disposed drive-shaft and a laterally disposed driven shaft carrying cylinder driving gears, composite housing for said shafts and gearscomprising a dished casing provided with a bearing carrying socket for the lower end of the drive-shaft, a two part casing disposed throughout the length of the driven shaft. with one of said parts constituting a lubricant holding chamber, the lower part of the last mentioned casing and the upper part of the first mentioned casing being socketed, and a tubular casing for the drive-shaft, mounted at its opposite ends inthe sockets of the first and second mentioned casings. V a

8. In a machine of the character described, provided with a vertically disposed driveshaft, a dished casingprovided with a hearing carrying socket and oil receiving Well below the main bottom of the casing adapted to receive the lower end of the drive-shaft,

a removable top having an upwardly disposed hub portion for the passage of the drive- 1 shaft therethrough, and flanges secured to the casing whereby the latter may be secured to the supporting frame of the machine.

9. In a power operated laundry machine, provided with a vertically disposed drive shaft and a laterally disposed driven shaft, a

compositehousing comprising a two-part casing each part composed of a curvilinear portion and a rectangular portion adapted to enclose the driven shaft and each being proed in the sockets of said bosses.

10. In a power operated laundry machine,

provided with a vertically disposed drive shaft and a laterally disposed driven shaft, composite housing comprising a two-part casing for the lower end of the drive shaft comprising a lubricant holding lower portion and a top cover portion, a two-part casing for the driven shaft closed at the ends and comprising a lower lubricant holding portion and an upper portion rovided with a removable front wall, and tu ular casing for the drive shaft havin interlocking engage ment at its ends with t iefirst two mentioned casings so asito provide an oil passage therebetween. a a

11. In a power laundrymachine, provided with avertically disposed drive shaft, a lat.- erally disposed driven shaft andcylinder driving mechanism, a two part housing for thedriven shaft and said mechanism, each provided with apertured shaft-receiving bosses, the lower part being provided with internal lugs on the front and rear walls thereof and with an integral front wall while the upper part is provided with a removable front-Wall section, and a pair of bearing brackets for the driven shaft, removablysefcured on said internal lugs. i

12. In a laundry machine, provided with a vertically disposed drive shaft and a laterally disposed driven shaft, housings for said shafts comprising a dished casing provided centrallywith a depression or oil well adapted to receive an anti-friction bearing and the lower'end of the drive shaft; a power shaft disposed through one side of said casing, gearing intermediate of said'power shaft and the drive shaft, a casing for the driven shaft disposed throughout the length thereof and terminating in substantially semi-circular gear enclosing. portions, and a tubular casing for the drive shaft disposed intermediate of both casings with its ends in lubricant maintaining relation therewith.

LAWRENCE W. MAMMEN. 

